Dominic Jones Womenswear A/W12

Bounty from the crusades by the young accessories designer and jeweller

Accessories designer and jeweller to the young fashion elite, Dominic Jones has always been a man with friends in high places. Last season's lookbook starred the likes of Orlando Weeks, Tallulah Harlech, Florence Welch and Cara Delevingne and his presentation featured a live performance from Alpines. This season he has once again called on a bevy of famous talent for support. In keeping with the collection's aristocratic feel, it is Jessica Brown-Findlay, Downton Abbey's Lady Sybil Crawley and Sacha Bailey that model his certifiably British take on pure and unadulterated gothic luxury.

I was inspired by what was brought back for the daughters of the knights that fought in the crusades

Autumn/Winter 12 looks to the highly prized trinkets delivered back from the crusades for his 12 collection. Inspired by the excitement and rarity of the objects discovered during 18th and 19th century voyages, the collection draws on these motifs to create a tough, modern take on delicate artefacts. “I was inspired by what was brought back for the daughters of the knights that fought in the crusades,” says Jones. “It was the first time that things from those countries, Africa, Arabia, Southeast Asia, had been seen and they were treated with such a lot of excitement because they hadn't been seen before.”

It was the first time that things from those countries, Africa, Arabia, Southeast Asia, had been seen and they were treated with such a lot of excitement because they hadn't been seen before

Chunky silver, gold, rose gold and blackened silver knuckleduster pieces have been produced alongside cuff bracelets, sovereigns and sculptural bands. Pieces inspired directly by Arabian palaces and detail-heavy carvings pull the collection together, after nearly going down a number of different paths. “I had tried out a lot of different references and nothing really felt right or that exciting to me until I discovered images of these artefacts and then suddenly I really felt the intrigue,” explains Jones. His theme is adapted delicately of course, married to the signature toughness he's revered for – “my underlining aesthetic.”